It is thought 8 Canada Square, designed by Foster + Partners and completed in 2002 is the tallest headquarters building in Europe to use solar panels.

The company claims the solar panels will generate electricity equivalent to that required to power 20 homes a year.

The panels, which were provided by electronics giant Sharp, have been fitted to withstand wind speeds of up to 140 miles per hour and are expected to generate more than 1.5m kilowatt hours of energy over the building's lease.

Earlier in the year the tower was awarded the top BREEAM rating of 'Excellent' for its site management, the first Canary Wharf building to do so.